J&K Set To Lead Nation With First Mountain Development Policy: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday called for a practical, people‑centred approach to sustainable mountain development, urging that environmental protection, economic growth and livelihoods must advance together.

Inaugurating the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS) at Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir here, Abdullah said J&K was preparing to frame India’s first Mountain Development Policy — but only through broad, region‑wide consultation.

He said J&K was ready to lead the Himalayan belt in adopting a dedicated development framework tailored to mountain needs, but warned that the policy must be grounded in reality rather than drafted in isolation. Abdullah stressed that climate change was already reshaping the region’s fragile ecology, citing erratic snowfall, prolonged dry spells, water scarcity, cloudbursts and extreme rainfall as signs of a new climatic normal. “We can’t stop global warming on our own, but we can certainly take better care of our environment,” he said, adding that sustainable development was essential for the long‑term survival of mountain communities.

Challenging the perception that tourism is the backbone of J&K’s economy, the Chief Minister said agriculture and horticulture contribute far more, making environmental protection central to economic security. While acknowledging that popular destinations have exceeded their carrying capacity, he said tourism alone cannot be blamed for environmental degradation. He urged residents, businesses and visitors to share responsibility by reducing plastic use, avoiding littering and conserving water and energy. Instead of restricting visitors to Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonamarg, he advocated developing new destinations with proper sewage, wastewater and solid‑waste systems in place from the outset.

Abdullah also flagged the growing risks from unscientific hill cutting during road construction, which he said had worsened landslides and repeatedly damaged roads in remote areas. He said he had asked the Forest and Environment Department and the Public Works Department to work jointly to ensure slope‑stabilisation measures and sustainable engineering practices were incorporated into all projects. On urban development, he called for energy‑efficient, earthquake‑resilient buildings and more efficient land use, including vertical expansion where feasible, recalling the devastation caused by the 2005 earthquake and the 2014 floods.

The Chief Minister highlighted visible glacier retreat, noting how younger generations now trek much farther to reach glaciers that once touched the meadows near Sonamarg. He said the present generation owed it to the future to protect what remains, restore what is possible and prevent further damage while safeguarding livelihoods.

With policymakers, scientists, civil society groups and farmers from 11 mountain states attending, Abdullah expressed hope that the three‑day summit would produce actionable recommendations rather than remain an academic exercise. He said J&K aspired to become the first Himalayan territory with its own mountain policy, but insisted that the framework must balance sustainability with the everyday realities of people’s existence. Several publications developed by SKUAST‑K, IIED and VCMI were released at the event, including a farmer‑focused guide on agricultural carbon markets and an Article 6.2 toolkit for international carbon cooperation.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and several other senior government functionaries and leaders are participating in the summit, which is expected to shape major policy conversations across the Himalayas.